OpenAI’s ChatGPT, launched in November last year, has become a hugely
popular consumer application due to its ability to engage in natural
conversations with users and provide a range of answers.
Some of the largest technology companies, including Alphabet and Microsoft, are concerned about this success and have responded by adding additional capabilities to Google and Bing. Although authorities have begun to tighten down on its use, with numerous Chinese apps barring access to ChatGPT, major internet companies in China are also hurrying to develop their own version of the chatbot.
Searches for ChatGPT on Chinese platforms no longer produce any results, and workaround programs have reportedly been disabled or suspended for “violating relevant laws and regulations,” despite the fact that some Chinese citizens have used virtual private networks and foreign phone numbers to get around restrictions.
Many apps that provided ChatGPT access services were also abruptly removed. Although a state-run media outlet speculated that the chatbot might be employed by US authorities to spread misinformation and sway public opinion, there is no obvious explanation for these restrictions.
A ChatGPT-like chatbot platform created by Fudan University in China also failed shortly after it was made available to the public, most likely as a result of an unexpected spike in traffic. Users from Hong Kong, Iran, Russia, and some regions of Africa are not permitted to register for ChatGPT by OpenAI.